Brewpub coming to former Pabst complex this summer

Room to be available for weddings, private events

A brewpub, operated by Pizza Man restaurants’ owners, will be part of Milwaukee Brewing Co.’s new development at downtown’s former Pabst complex.

The brewpub, which isn’t yet named, would include a large room for weddings, corporate meetings and other events, said Scott Lurie, who owns the building.

Sarah and Zach Baker, who operate the local Pizza Man group, will manage the restaurant, which Lurie described as an updated version of Milwaukee Ale House.

The Ale House is a Historic Third Ward brewpub where Milwaukee Brewing Co. got its start in 1997.

The new restaurant will focus on Milwaukee Brewing’s brands but will feature other beers, Lurie said.

The 10,000-square-foot restaurant will include the 3,800-square-foot private room, as well as an outdoor deck overlooking downtown from its hillside location on N. 9th St., between W. Juneau and W. Highland avenues.

It will likely open by late summer, Lurie said Thursday.

Lurie’s investment group, Bull & A Boy LLC, is seeking a $500,000 loan from nonprofit business lender Milwaukee Economic Development Corp. to help finance the $3 million restaurant project.

Those funds would be used to buy equipment and furnishings, and provide working capital. The restaurant is expected to open with 40 full-time and 60 part-time employees, according to the MEDC.

The restaurant will be adjacent to Milwaukee Brewing’s new brewery, which is under construction.

That will become the main brewery for the company, which will continue to operate its facility in the Walker’s Point neighborhood.

Lurie also plans to develop offices in the upper portion of the building, which is Pabst Brewing Co.’s former distribution center.

The lower portion of the 170,000square-foot building, along N. 8th St., has been converted into a self-storage center operated by Extra Space Storage. That portion of the building is separately owned.